Rope suspended ascending and descending supporting device



y 1950 J. NlEMlEC 2,508,187

ROPE SUSPENDED ASCENDING AND DESCENDING SUPPORTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1946 INVENTOR. Jake 0% [\Zz'e ,zec,

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May 16, 1950 Filed Sept. 11, 1946 J. NIEMIEC ROPE SUSPENDED ASCENDING AND DESCENDING SUPPORTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Jase a? Maniac, BY

jflorzggq Patented May 16, 1950 ROPE SUSPENDED ASCENDING AND DESCENDING SUPPORTING DEVICE Joseph Niemiec, Irvington, N. J.

Application September 11, 1946, Serial No. 696,265

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved rope suspended means for supporting a workman or other used at selected elevated positions, as e. g. relative to a perpendicular Wall surface, including means, operable by the user, to cause the supporting device to ascend or descend the suspending rope at will.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel supporting device for the purposes stated which is engaged upon a suspending rope in such manner as to becapable of moving up and down upon said rope; said device being provided with means-engaged intractional relation to the suspending rope; and said device being further providedrwith means,-operable by theuserof the device, for imparting motion to the tractional means whereby to cause the device to ascend or descend the suspending rope at will.

The invention has for another object to provide in adevice of the kind stated, a releasable safety clutch means adapted to engage the suspending rope so as to positively prevent accidental descent of the device along said rope.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of thesame.

An illustrative embodiment'of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1. is a side elevational view of a rope suspended ascending and descending supporting device according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 2-2 in-Fig. 1, and drawn on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical longitudinal sec tional View, taken on line 33 in Fig. 2, but drawn on a further enlarged scale; and Fig, 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through the safety clutch of the supporting device, taken on line 44 in Fig. 2, and drawn on an enlarged scale.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate correspondnaled in and across the casing ll is a main rotatable shaft l2 upon which is fixed a peripherally grooved traction pulley or wheel [3 adapted to engage the upper stretch of the rope l0. Also fixed upon said shaft I3, adjacent to said pulley or wheel I3, is a similarly peripherally grooved traction pulley or wheel l4 adapted to engage the lower stretch of the rope Ill. Opposed to an upper portion of the traction pulley or wheel 13 is an intermediate peripherally grooved traction wheel or pulley I5, which is rotatably supported on a stud shaft 16 that is suitably affixed to the casin ll. Similarly, opposed to a lower portion of the traction pulley or Wheel I4 is a second intermediate peripherally grooved traction pulley orwheel [1 which is also rotatably supported on a stud shaft l8 that is suitably afiixed to the casing H. i

The upper stretch of the suspending rope Ill, which enters the upper end of the casing ll through a top opening I9, is led to the traction pulley or wheel [3 so as to pass around the underside thereof, and thence to and over theflrst intermediate traction pulley or wheel l5. From said intermediate traction pulley or wheel l5, the rope I0 passes to and around the underside of the second intermediate traction pulley or wheel IT, and thence to and over the traction pulley or wheel I4, from which the lower stretch of said rope in depends to pass downwardly out of the casing II through a bottom opening 20. By this arrangement of the suspending rope H), the same is strongly snubbed around the several traction pulleys 0r wheels in such manner as to establish a very efficient frictional and tractional engagement of said traction pulleys or wheels with the rope, so that, when the traction pulleys or wheels are rotated, the same'will grip the rope, whereby to tractionally roll thereon, and thus effect up or down movement of the casing ll alon the rope, as the case may be.

Preferably, the traction pulleys or wheels are arranged in intergeared relation, so that all are positively driven by rotation of the main shaft l2. This may be arranged in any suitable manner, such e. gas by providing peripheral portions of the traction pulleys or wheels with gear teeth 2|,

or wheels. One illustrative form of power transmission means adapted for this purpose, as shown, comprises a suitably located lay or countershaft 22 which is journaled in and across the casing l l parallel to the main shaft [2. Fixed on said main shaft I2 is a driven gear wheel 23. Fixed on said lay or countershaft 22 is a drive pinion or gear 24 which meshes with the driven gear 23; the ratio of the drive pinion or gear 24 to the driven gear 23 is such as to effect gain in power application to said main shaft 12. Journaled in a suitably disposed bearing means 25, with which the casing II is provided, is a drive shaft 26, one end portion of which is disposed to project exteriorly of said casing H, and upon which exterior end portion of said drive shaft is affixed a crankhandle 21 for importing motion to said drive shaft. Fixed on the inner end portion of said drive shaft 26 is a beveled driving gear 28 which meshes with and drives a beveled driven gear 29 which is fixed on the lay r countershaft 22, whereby the power of the drive shaft 25 is transmitted to the lay or countershaft, and thence through the gearing 2423 to the main shaft l2, and said rope engaging traction pulleys or wheels which are driven by the latter.

Suitably affixed to and supported within the interior of the casing l l above the traction pulley or wheel 13, so as to engage the upper stretch of the suspending rope I!) which extends to the latter, is a releasable safety clutch means. This clutch means, in a preferred form thereof as shown, comprises a housing 30 having a longitudinal way 3| extending perpendicularly therethrough, and through which said upper stretch of the suspending rope Ill extends. Longitudinally movable within'said way 3| is a pair of upwardly tapered opposed clutch wedges 32, between which the upper stretch of the suspending rope passes, so that opposite sides of the latter are engageable thereby. The inner faces of said clutch wedges are preferably channeled or grooved conformably to the contours of the rope sides, and said faces may be and preferably are suitably roughened so as to bind the rope in the embrace of the clutch wedges with a strong frictional and non-slipping grip, when disposed in holding engagement therewith. The inclined outer faces 33 of said clutch wedges 32 are slidably supported or backed by the housing 30, preferably by anti-friction rollers 34 with which the latter is provided, so that resistance to longitudinal movements thereof is reduced to a minimum. Said clutch wedges 32 are yieldably upwardly thrust longitudinally to normal rope gripping position by spring means. Said spring means preferably comprises a compression spring 35 which bears against the lower ends of said clutch wedges, and which is supported by a perforate footing plate 36 carried by hangers 31 which are dependent from the lower end of the housing 30. The upper extremities of said clutch wedges 32 freely project exteriorly upward from the upper end of the housing 30.

Means, operable by the user of the device, is provided for moving the clutch wedges to and holding the same in released relation to the suspending rope I0. An illustrative form of such means, as shown, comprises a clutch releasing lever 38 which is pivotally supported adjacent to the upper end portion of the housing 30, preferably by a carrying bracket 39 with which the latter is provided. The forward arm 40 of said clutch releasing lever 38 is preferably bifurcated to straddle the rope l0, and so as to be engageable with the exteriorly projecting upper extremities of the clutch wedges 32. Suitably supported below the rearward arm 4| of said clutch releasing lever 38 is a rock-shaft 42. Preferably the inner end portion of said rock-shaft 42 is journaled in said carrying bracket 39. The outer end portion of said rock-shaft 42 is journaled in bearing means 43 with which the casing is provided, and so as to project exteriorly from the latter. Fixed on the inner end portion of the rock-shaft 42 is an actuating cam 44 which is movable by said rock-shaft into and out of operative engagement with the rearward arm 4| of said clutch releasing lever 38. Fixed on the exterior end portion of said rock-shaft 42 is a hand lever 45, by which said shaft and the actuating cam 44 thereon may be operated.

Means additional to the above described safety clutch means may be provided for further assuring against accidental descent of the supporting device along the suspending rope, said additional means being so arranged as to be also controlled by the clutch releasing lever 38. Said additional means comprises a ratchet wheel 46 which is fixed on the lay or countershaft 22. Cooperative with said ratchet wheel 46 is a pivoted check pawl 47, which is linked by a lost motion link 48 to the rearward arm 4| of the clutch releasing lever 38. When said check pawl 4'! is operatively related to the ratchet wheel 43, the latter is permitted to turn, unchecked by the pawl 41, in a direction adapted to permit transmission of'motion to the traction pulleys or wheels whereby to rotate the latter in direction to cause upward travel of the supporting device along the suspending rope l0, while the check pawl 41 remains operative to engage the ratchet wheel teeth so as to restrain opposite rotation of the traction pulleys or wheels, and consequently thus prevent downward travel of the supporting device along said suspending rope.

Suitably affixed to the top end of the casing II is a seating platform 49 upon which the user of the device may rest. Affixed to and extending upwardly from the top of the casing and its seating platform is a tubular standard 50, the bore of which is aligned with the rope admission opening l9, and thus serves as a guide for the upper stretch of the suspending rope [I].

The user of the device may desire to stand upright upon the device, if such position is more convenient for the pursuit of work to be performed. To facilitate use of the device in such manner, and to render such position safe for the user, the standard 59 is provided with oppositely extending cross arms 5|, preferably provided with attachment loops or eyes 52 to which a safety belt (not shown) worn by the user may be secured. To facilitate operation of the device by the user, when the latter occupies a standing position thereon, auxiliary means for applying operating power to the mechanism is provided. This means comprises a crank handle 53, which is rotatably supported at the end of one of said cross arms 5|, and which is adapted to drive a sprocket and chain transmission 54 for rotating the drive shaft 26.

The lower stretch of the suspending rope I!) is preferably kept taught by the attachment to its free end of a weight 55 (see Fig. 1). To guard against displacement of the suspending rope H] from the traction pulleys or wheels l3 and I4, an idler guard roller 56 maybe opposed thereto.

In the use and operation of the novel rope suspended'ascending and descending supporting 7 device, the user either seats himself or stands on the supporting platform 49.

When itis desired to ascend the suspending rope, the clutch releasing lever 38 is disposed in the released position shown in Fig. 2, thus permitting the clutch wedges 32 tobe urged up wardly into gripping relation to the suspending rope In by the spring 35, while at the same time the check pawl 41 is free to operatively engage the ratchet wheel '46. The user may now turn either the crank handle 21 or5.i in clockwise direction, thereby, through the "intermediate transmission mechanism, rotatingtheniain shaft l2 in counter clockwise direction whereby to cause the traction pulleys or wheels to moveupwardly along the suspending rope Ill, and thus cause the supporting device, and the user carried thereby, to ascend said rope. Duringsuch ascending movement of the supporting'device, the clutchwedges 32 tend to 'slide downwardin the housing under'the'downward dragfof the "sus pending rope Ill and against the tension of the spring35, thus relaxing the holdof said clutch we dgesupon the rope, so that the latter is unimpeded as to its downward movement through the supportingv device, and consequently said clutch-wedges offer no substantial resistance to the ascending movement ofsaid supporting device along the rope. Since, under these circumstances, the check-pawl 41 is" 'operatively related to the ratchet wheel 46, it will, by engagement with the teeth of the latter,-obstruct any reverse movement of n the traction pulleys or wheels and transmission mechanism, whereby, as a safety factor, to prevent any downward movement of the supporting device relative to the suspending rope I0.

When a desired elevation of the supporting device and the user carried thereby is attained, and upward movement of the supporting device ceases, the clutch wedges 32 will be urged by the spring into grippingrelation to the suspending rope II), which grip is enhanced by the upward drag of the rope upon the clutch wedges, and consequently the" supporting 'devicean'd the user carried thereby will'be safely-sustained against accidental descentalong the suspending rope, as will be obvious. 1, a

"Whenit is desiredto descend the suspending rope I0, theuser or the device f swings the hand lever -to rotate the rock'fshaft 42in direction to upswing the actuating cam :44 with uplifting effect against the rearwai d In M of the clutch releasing lever 38fthusswingingfthe latter about its pivot so as to downswingdts'forward arm 40 against the upper ends of the clutch wedges 32, whereby to depress the latter against the tension of the spring 35, and thus relax the grip of the sameupon the suspending rope [0. At the same time, the upswinging movemehtcif the rearward arm 4| of'the clutch releasing lever 38 is transmitted through the link 48 to the clutch-pawl ,whereby to upswing the latter out of operative relation to (the ratcnerwneei fm; Under these circumstances'gth'e' user"ma y"tur1n eitherfcra'nk ha'rfdle 21hr 5a in'counterlclockwise direction, whereby, through the intermediate transmission mechanism, to r'otate the'n'iain shaft l2 in clockwise direction, so as to cause the traction pulleys Q sw e st mor wnw rd v along "t pending rope I ll, and thereby cause the supporting device and the user carried thereby to descend the latter.

From the above description it will be apparent that the instant invention provides a very efwhich work is to be performed.

I am aware, that various changes could be madein the above-described constructions and arrangement of parts, and that widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departingfrom the scope of this invention as defined by the herefollowing claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the foregoing'description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A supporting device of the kind described comprising a suspended ropefa carriage through which said rope extends, a main shaft journaled in said carriage, a traction pulley fixed on said main shaft and adapted to be engagedby the upper stretch-of said rope, a second traction pulley also fixed on said main shaft and adapted to be engaged by the lower stretch of said rope, intermediatetraction pulleys over which the rope runs from said first to said second traction pulley, a countershaft also journaled in said carriage, transmission gearing between said main shaft and countershaft, means operable to drive said countershaft including crank-handle'means exteriorly of the carriage, a ratchet wheel fixed on saidcountershaft, a check pawl cooperative with said ratchet wheel whereby to prevent operation of said countershaft'andmain shaft in carriage lowering direction', a clutch comprising a pair of clutch wedges adapted to straddle said upper stretch of the rope above said first traction pulley, means to support said clutch wedges, spring means to urge said clutch wedges to rope engaging position whereby under relative upward drag of the rope, the 'samewill grip said rope and thereby hold the carriage against accidental descent therealong, a pivoted clutch releasing lever, a rotatable cam for actuating-said level, manipulatable means operable to en age and disengage said camwith"saiddever; and means 'interconnectingsaid check-pawl" with said clutch releasing lever whereby operative movement of thelattersimultaneously releases the formerfromoperativerelation to'said ratchet Wheel-7" "Y 11 2. A supporting device of the kind'desc'rib'ed as defined in claim ,1 I wherein said-first mentioned traction pulley is intergeared with: the interme; diate t t nfxpull yi to. which then-rope runs therefrom, and said 'second traction pulley is-intergeared with the intermediate traction pulley from which the rope runs thereto;

,3, A supporting device of 13h}? kinddeScrib'ed comprising a suspended rope, a carriage through which said rope extends, traction means mounted in connection with said carriage around whicn said rope passes, power transmission means also mounted in connection with said carriage operable to rotatesaid traction means to cause the same to, move up; cr -down" along said: rope-with; carriage propelling effect, said power transmission means including a ratchet wheel, a checkpawl cooperative with said ratchet wheel to normally prevent operation of the transmission means in carriage lowering direction, a clutch comprising opposed clutch wedges adapted to straddle the stretch of rope which extends upwardly from said traction means, means to support said clutch wedges, spring means to urge said clutch wedges into gripping relation to said rope under relative upward drag of the latter, whereby to normally hold the carriage against accidental descent along said rope, a pivoted lever operable to release said clutch wedges from gripping relation to the rope, manipulatable means for operating said clutch releasing lever, and means interconnecting said check-pawl with said clutch releasing lever, whereby operative movement of the latter simultaneously releases the former from its restraint upon said ratchet wheel so as to permit operation of said power transmission means in carriage lowering direction.

4. A supporting device of the kind described comprising a suspended rope, a carriage through which said rope extends, a main shaft journaled in said carriage, a traction pulley having peripheral gear teeth fixed on said main shaft adapted to be engaged by the upper stretch of said rope, a second traction pulley having peripheral gear teeth also fixed on said main shaft adapted to be engaged by the lower stretch of said rope, an idler pulley having peripheral gear teeth opposed to said first mentioned traction pulley with its gear teeth in mesh with the gear teeth of the latter, a second idler pulley having peripheral gear teeth opposed to said second traction pulley with its gear teeth in mesh with the gear teeth of the said second traction pulley, the rope being disposed to run from said first traction pulley to said second traction pulley over said first and second idler pulleys, power transmission means mounted in connection with said carriage operable to drive said main shaft and said traction pulleys, said transmission means including a ratchet wheel, a check-pawl cooperative with said ratchet wheel to normally prevent operation of the transmission means in carriage lowering direction, and means to release said check-pawl to permit operation of the transmission means in carriage lowering direction.

5. A supporting device of the kind described comprising a suspended rope, a carriage through which said rope extends, a main shaft journaled in said carriage, a traction pulley having peripheral gear teeth fixed on said main shaft adapted to be engaged by the upper stretch of said rope, a second traction pulley having peripheral gear teeth also fixed on said main shaft adapted to be engaged by the lower stretch of said rope, an idler pulley having peripheral gear teeth opposed to said first mentioned traction pulley with its gear teeth in mesh with the gear teeth of the latter, a second idler pulley having peripheral gear teeth opposed to said second traction pulley with its gear teeth in mesh with the gear teeth of the said second traction pulley, the rope being disposed to run from said first traction pulley to said second traction pulley over said first and second idler pulleys, power transmission means mounted in connection with said carriage operable todrive said main shaft and said traction pulleys, said transmission means including a ratchet wheel, a check-pawl oooperative with said ratchet wheel to normally prevent operation of the transmission means incarriage lowering direction, a rope gripping clutch adapted to engage the upper stretch of rope, said clutch being operative to grip the rope under relative upward drag thereof, whereby to normally hold the carriage against accidental descent along the rope, manipulatable clutch releasing means, and means interconnecting said clutch-pawl with said clutch releasing means, whereby operative movement of the latter simultaneously releases the former from its restraint upon said ratchet wheel so as to permit operation of the transmission means in carriage lowering direction. e

.6. A supporting device of the kind described comprising a suspended rope, a carriage through which said rope extends, a main shaft journaled in said carriage, a traction pulley having peripheral gear teeth fixed on said main shaft adapted to be engaged by the upper stretch of said rope, a second traction pulley having peripheral gear teeth also fixed on said main shaft adapted to be engaged by the lower stretch of said rope, an idler pulley having peripheral gear teeth opposed to said first mentioned traction pulley with its gear teeth in mesh with the gear teeth of the latter, a second idler pulley having peripheral gear teeth opposed to-said second traction pulley with its gear teeth in mesh with the gear teeth of the said second traction pulley, the rope being disposed to run from said first traction pulley to said second traction pulley over said first and second idler pulleys, power transmission means mounted in connection with said carriage operable to drive said main shaft and said traction pulleys, said transmission means including a ratchet wheel, a check-pawl cooperative with said ratchet wheel to normally prevent operation of the transmission means in carriage lowering direction, a clutch comprising opposed clutch wedges adapted to straddle the upper stretch of rope, means to support said clutch wedges, spring means to urge said clutch wedges into gripping relation to the rope under relative upward drag of the latter, whereby to normally hold the carriage against accidental descent along the rope, a pivoted lever operable to release said clutch wedges from gripping relation to the rope, manipulatable means for operating said clutch releasing lever, and means interconnecting said check-pawl with said clutch releasing lever, whereby operative movement of the latter simultaneously releases the former from its restraint upon said ratchet wheel so as to permit operation of said power transmission means in carriage lowering direction.

JOSEPH NIEMIEC.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 581,754 Mock May 4, 1897 998,270 Whitney July 18, 1911 1,682,083 Johnston Aug. 28, 1928 1,725,183 7 Fischer Aug. 20, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 522,648 France Apr. 4, 1921 

